Rocking distributer for ignition systems.



C. T; MASON.

ROCKING DISTRIBUTER FOB IGNITION SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED nov. 16. me.

Patented Sept 25, 1917.

3 MEETS-SHEET 2.

Suva Hot C. T. MAS-51%;,

Rooms msTmsurER FOR 111mm smms.

APPLICATION FILED 1N0;- iti Z'Jhi STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RDCKING DISTRIBUTER FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS.

Application filed November 16, 1916.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES THOMAS MAsoN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Sumter, in the county of Sumter and State of SouthCarolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in RockingDistributers for Ignition Systems, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying draw- 111 Thisinvention relates to new and useful improvements in ignition systems,and more particularly to an ignition system for supplying a plurality ofcylinders of an internal combustion engine in which a distributer isused for distributing an ignition current first to one cylinder and thento another in proper time for igniting the explosive charge.

An object of the invention is to provide a distributer which may bemounted independently of the magneto shaft and operated therefrom, andwhich distributer is so constructed that it may be shifted with thecircuit breaker or interrupter for advancing or retarding the spark fortiming purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a distributer of theabove character which rotates at a different speed than the interrupteror breaker with means for shifting the distributer through the sameangle of advance or retard as the circuit breaker or interrupter whenthe same is shifted for timing purposes.

These and ,other objects will in part be obvious and will in part behereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings, which show by way of illustration one embodiment of theinventi0n:- I

Figure l is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section,showing a magneto having my improvements applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same with the cover plate for the circuitbreaker removed and a portion of the distributer broken away, showingthe connection between the circuit breaker casing and the distributercasing whereby shifting of one shifts the other;

Fig. 3 is a view, showing more or less diagrammatically the arrangementof the terminals of the distributer and the devices for distributing theignition current to these several terminals.

The invention is directed to a magneto having a rotor or inductor forproducing a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

Serial No. 131,729.

plurality of E. M. F. and current waves for each rotation of the rotoror inductor. Associated with this rotor or inductor is a circuit breakeror interrupter which is so timed as to break. the primary circuit of thegenerating coil when the E. M. F. and current waves are at a maximum.Also associated with the circuit breaker or interrupter is adistributer. This distributer is mounted free of the rotor shaft but ispreferably actuated therefrom. The distributer may be rotated at aslower speed than the circuit breaker or interrupter so as to supply anumber of cylinders of an internal combustion engine. The presentinvention is directed particularly to the mounting of the distributerand the connecting of the same to the interrupter or circuit breaker boxin such a way that, when the circuit breaker is shifted for retarding oradvancing the spark, the distributer will also be shifted to the sameangle of advance or retard. This shifting of the distributer with thecircuit breaker or interrupter permits of the using of relatively smallcontact plates in the distributer so that the contact plates may bespaced a considerable .distance apart and thus avoid any possible chanceof the high tension current arcing between the contact plates and theterminal contacts.

Referring more in detail to the drawingsz- My invention is embodied in amagneto consisting of a supporting base 1 having permanent magnets 2.Extending through the magnets is a rotor or inductor shaft 3 on which ismounted two flux-carrying elements 4 and 5. Cooperating with the rotoror inductor is a field structure which includes a generating coil,indicated at 6. This generating coil is provided with primary andsecondary windings. One terminal of the secondary winding s indicated at7. One terminal of the primary winding is indicated at 8. Theflux-carrying elements 4 and 5 are so constructed and positionedrelative to each other and to the field structure as to produce four E.M. F. and current waves for each rotation of the shaft. This shaft 3 ofthe rotor or inductor is connected to the main shaft of an internalcombustion engine. The magneto shown in the draw- .ings is intended tofurnish a twelve-cylinder internal combustion engine. It will be understood, however, that the magneto may be constructed so as to supplyan internal combustion engine having a different number of cylindersand, therefore, it is obvious that the construction of the magneto andthe distributer shown in detail in the drawings is purely for thepurposes of illustration. In operating my magneto for a twelve-cylinderengine, the shaft 3 is driven so as to make one and one-half revolutionsfor every single revolution of the engine shaft which results in six E.M. F. and current Waves for each rotation of the engine shaft. Thedistributer, as will'be pointed out hereinafter, is provided with twelveterminals, and this distributer is, therefore, driven at a speed ratioof one to three ofthe magneto shaft or one to two of the engine shaft.

The interrupter or circuit breaker is shown in the drawings for thepurpose of illustration as consisting of two pairs of contacts which areso constructed and operated that first one and then the other becomeseffective for breaking the primary circuit. In other words, one of thesecontacts is opened while the other is closed and opened, and while thisremains open, then the first one is closed and opened. One pair ofcontacts is indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings at 9. The fixed contactis carried by an anvil 10 and is connected to the primary 8 of theprimary circuit. The other pair of contacts is also connected to thisprimary terminal 8. The movable contact of the pair 9 is carried by alever 11 which is pivoted at'12 and carries a bumper 13 which cooperateswith the rotor cam 14 which is fixed to the end of the shaft 3. Themovable contact of the other pair of contacts, which is directly in rearof the contacts 9, is carried by a similar lever, and this lever isoperated by a cam 15 located, alongside of the cams 14. These cams willnot be described in detail as they form no part of the present inventionper 56, but are shown, described and claimed in my copend ingapplication Serial No. 37,130, filedJune 30, 1915. i

The levers for operating the movable contacts and the fixed contacts areall carried by a shiftable breaker box or casing 16. This breaker box or*asing may be shifted by a connection with an arm 17 or an arm 18, thesearms being integral or otherwise suitably secured to the breaker box.Said breaker box is mounted so as to be shifted about a bearing sleeveon the main frame of the magneto in a manner which is wellknown in thisart. Directly above the interrupter or breaker is the distributer.

This distributer consists of a central fixed member 13 formed ofsuitable insulating material. Said member is mounted in a sleeve 19carried b the magneto frame. l lxtending centrally into the member 13 isa conductor 20 which is connected with the terminals 7 of the secondarywinding. Said to the respective spark plugs of the twelve cylinders,which are to be furnished with the ignition current. These twelveterminals are located in two circular rows, the front terminals beingindicated at 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 and 31, respectively, \i'liiletlie rearrow of terminals are directly in rear of the front terminals, and two.and these terminals are indicated in dotted lines at 35 and 36,respectively. Each of these terminals include a yieldingly mounted brushwhich is forced inwardly radially of the distributer. The terminals aredisposed in radial planes intersecting the brushes carried by thecentral member 18. Located between the inner and outer fixed members 18and 28 is a rotating member 37 which is formed of insulating material.This rotating member is mounted on a sleeve 33 which is carried by asuitable ball bearing A gear wheel 40 is attached to said sleeve 38, andthis gear meshes with a gear 41 on the rotor shaft 3. The gears 40 and41 are preferably so proportioned that the gear 40 makes one revolutionfor every three revolutions of the gear 41.

The rotating member 37 of the distributer is provided with two pairs ofcontacts which are indicated at 42 and 43, respectively. These pairs ofcontacts are similar in construction though oppositely arranged, that isto say, the contact 42 consists of an outer plate 44 and an inner plate4-5 which are electrically connected, and these plates extend so as tobe engaged by the brushes 21. 22, 23 and so forth, and so as to alsoengage the front row of terminals. The contact members 43 also consistof outer and inner plates 44 and 45 electrically connected. and theseare disposed so as to make contact with the brushes 21. 23 and so forth.and the inner row of terminals carried by the member 23. The contacts 42and t3 are so disposed that when one set making contact between thebrush and the terminal 30. for example, then the other pair of contartsi is midway between the t rminals 32 and 33 and also the brushes 3-1 and35. .\s the member 37 rotates. it turned in the direction of the arrowin Fig. 3. the pair of contacts -43 will soon join or electrimitlyconnect the. plate 15 with the terminal in the inner row directly inrear of the terminal 13. Meanwhile, the pair of contacts 1';

has moved to a position midway between the terminals 30 and 31, and alsothe brushes 22 and 28. As above noted, the distributer per 80 forms nopart of the present invention, but has been described in detail in orderthat the invention may be understood.

The breaker box or casing 16 is provided with a pin 16, and this pin isadapted to engage a slot 47 formed in the member 28 of the distributer.The central member 18 of the distributer is connected to the outermember 28 by means of suitable pins 48 which extend into recesses formedin the outer member 28 and also recesses formed in the inner member 18.These members 18 and 28 are described above as fixed. They are fixed inthe sense that they do not rotate during the normal operation of thedistributer and yet they are shiftable. The members 18 and 28 aresecured to the frame by an annular ring 49 which is connected to theframe by bolts 49. This ring permits the members 18 and 28 to be freelyshifted about the center of the distributer. The breaker box or casingis shiftable for timing purposes, as above noted, and whenever thisbreaker box is shifted, the pin 46 will turn the fixed members 18 and 28of the distribut-ers about the center of the distributer but in thedirection opposite to that in which the breaker box or casing isshifted. When, therefore. it is desired to advance the spark the breakerbox or casing is shifted in the proper direction and through the desiredangle for advance, and this shifting of the breaker box will also shiftthe fixed member of the distributer through a similar angleof advanceand, therefore, when the contacts are separated for "producing anignition current in the secondary winding, the contacts either 42 or 43,which is effective at this time, will be properly positioned relative tothe brushes on the inner fixed member 18 and the terminal brushes on theouter fixed member 28. In other words, in all other distributers so faras I am aware, the contacts have to be of sufficient length to allow foradvance and retard of the spark but by my improvement where thedistributer is shifted when the breaker is moved for advance and retardshort segments may be used. that is, the length of the plates 44 and 4:)may be relatively short and still make proper contact between thebrushes on the inner member 18 and the terminal brushes on the outermember 28 when the primary circuit is interrupted or broken. Thisrelatively short length in the segments 44. and 4.7 gives greaterdistance between the segments and the terminal brushes of an idle orineffective terminal and hence lessens the tendency of the spark to jumpto the wrong terminal brush. For example. in a twelvec vlinder engine.although the terminals are arranged in two rows, the angular distancebetween adjacent terminals is sixty degrees. When the distributer hasthe fixed parts which are not shifted upon advance and retard of thespark, the angle of advance or retard must be somewhat limited otherwisethere is a danger of the spark jumping to the wrong terminal. By myimprovement where the fixed terminals are shifted when the spark isadvanced or retarded and through a corresponding angle of advance orretard then this danger of the spark jumping to the wrong terminal isentirely avoided. In Fig. 2 of the drawings 1 have shown the breaker boxand distributer as in an intermediate position in full lines, indicatedat 7), while 1 have indicated in dotted lines at a what may beconsidered the advance position, and then in dotted lines at 0 whatwould be the retarded position.

It is obvious that other forms of construction may be used in connectionwith the distributer and other forms of construction may be used inconnection with the interrupter or circuit breaker. The essentialfeature consists in the shifting of the distributer through acorresponding angle of advance or retard, when the circuit breaker orinterrupter is shifted for timing purposes.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. Anignition system including in combination, a source of current, a circuitbreaker, a distributer having a casing and a movable member thereinmounted independently of the circuit breaker, and means for.simultaneously shifting thecircuit breaker and said casing relative tosaid movable member for timing purposes.

2. An ignition system including in combination, a source of current, acircuit breaker, a distributer mounted independently of the circuitbreaker, means for shifting the circuit breaker for timing purposes, andfor simultaneously shifting the distributer in an opposite directionthrough a corresponding angle.

3. An ignition system including in com bination, a rotor shaft, a camcarried thereby, a circuit breaker ope 'ated by said cam, means forshifting said circuit breaker about the cam for timing purposes, adistributer operated at a difierent speed from said cam, and means forshifting said distributer simultaneously with the circuit breaker.

4. An ignition system including in combination, a rotor shaft, a camcarried by said shaft, contacts actuated by said cam, a distributermounted on a separate shaft from the rotor shaft and actuated thereby,and means for simultai'ieously shifting the contacts and the distributerfor timing purposes.

The combinatlon of a rotor shaft. a cam carried by said shaft, contactsactuated by said cam, a shiftable casing carrying said contacts, adistributer including a rotating member and relatively fixed members,means for actuating said rotating member from the rotor shaft and atdifferent speed from the rotor shaft, and means for simultaneouslyshifting the casin g carrying the contacts and the fixed members of thedistributer for timing purposes.

6. The combination of a rotor shaft, a cam carried by said rotor shaft,contacts actuated by said cam, a casing supporting said contacts, meansfor shifting said casing and contacts about the cam for timing purposes,a distributer including a rotating member CHARLES THOMAS MASON.

